Times of need Local charities getting by in tough economy

Those volunteers are more than a lifeline for sustenance; they also do general health and safety checks for clients who don’t have regular visitors or access to transportation. It’s been that way for 40 years.

But it seems that no matter how many volunteers there are or how much people donate, there’s always a need for more. Currently 76 people are on the organization’s waiting list, at risk of malnutrition in the meantime.

The roadblock to delivering those meals is funding, said Anne Baker, Alamance County Meals on Wheels director. Donations constitute two-thirds of the organization’s annual budget.

In a perpetually slumped economy, that money has sometimes been tough to come by.

“The downturned economy has become our norm. People are more cautious about giving because they are concerned they might not have enough for themselves. People are thinking hard before they give,” Baker said.

Though not in dire straits, other organizations said this week that the 2008 recession created a number of challenges — increasing demand for services while decreasing donations — that they’ve only really been able to tackle in the last year or so. People are giving; they just need to be convinced there’s a real need first, directors of several organizations said.

“Doing the same old things isn’t working anymore,” said Ronnie Wall, director of the United Way of Alamance County. “A lot of the workplace campaigns have disappeared. We’ve had to be creative in our fundraising and cut back on spending.”

The United Way helps raise money for 36 community agencies, running a fundraising campaign each year to meet their needs. Despite a large dip in donations in 2011 — to $1.4 million from $2.1 million in 2010 — the organization since has consistently raised more money than it did the year before.

Last year, it raised just shy of $1.75 million. This year’s campaign goal for Alamance County is $1.77 million.

Meeting those goals has meant finding new ways to tell stories of the effects of local donations on children and families, Wall said. The organization also has decreased its focus on workplace campaigns in favor of sponsorships and one-time donations that are easier for small businesses to work with.

At The Salvation Army of Burlington, Capt. Jimmy Taylor said the recession brought drops in monetary and in-kind donations that the organization uses to provide after-school programs, emergency relief and other assistance.

“We always need more funding just because of the nature of what we do,” Taylor said. “As we go through difficult times, there are more people in need. The community has stepped up to meet that need. … Things seem to be headed in a good direction. It’s a daily struggle, as every nonprofit knows, but things are looking up.”

DONATIONS HAVE been smaller but more frequent at Allied Churches of Alamance County, director Kim Crawford said.

“We survive solely on the generosity of donations,” Crawford said. “There have been a whole lot of smaller donations. We may not get many people who hand us a check for $5,000, but … those smaller donations add up. And we’re seeing people now who’ve been recipients of some of our services who are donating. That’s exciting.”

But it’s not just money nonprofits need. They also need more hands.

“We have a huge need for volunteers,” Taylor said. “We’re looking for people that would give us an hour or two. If you’d like to volunteer in any capacity, just call, and we can sign you up.”

Earlier this year, the Salvation Army and Allied Churches created new food pantries to fill the gap left by the demise of Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry. Loaves & Fishes provided food to as many as 7,000 people a month, but closed in September, citing a dramatic decrease in donations.

“Across the board, we’re seeing a huge need for food,” Taylor said.

The Salvation Army of Burlington served 2,100 people through the food bank in October. The Allied Churches shelter provided more than 5,000 meals in October and November — a figure that hadn’t ever been reached before Loaves and Fishes closed — Crawford said. Allied Churches also has opened a food pantry and donation site at Holly Hill Mall to meet the demand of more than 1,500 people a month.

Both organizations accept canned goods and other food but encourage residents to donate money toward the food kitchens. They have access to cheaper, bulk-purchase and wholesale prices, Taylor and Crawford said.

Despite the increased demand and expanding need for services, everyone — Baker, Wall, Taylor and Crawford — said they’ve been able to count on people here to give of their time and resources. The challenge is spreading news of the specific missions and needs.

“I believe that people are generous. It’s when they know: That’s what’s going to drive them,” Crawford said. “Ignorance is bliss. If people don’t know, they don’t know. The more we can get out and educate people and tell people, the more they will give.”

For more about Meals on Wheels visit http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/top-news/meals-on-wheels-is-driving-giving-tuesday-1.242568

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.